The day before the Halloween feast was bitterly cold and frosty. Wind whipped through the corridors and made even the common room fire flicker. It had been a very hard day. We’d had Potions with Ravenclaw, followed by Transfiguration with the Slytherins and also Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Sirius, Remus Peter and I practically fell up the stairs before we flopped down into our corner. Potions had been a nightmare, even Professor Grenell’s forced cheerfulness couldn’t make us enjoy the lesson. Peters potion had exploded and some of the ice-brew fell onto my hand freezing it to the bone. Then in transfiguration I had been shivering so violently that I couldn’t control my wand properly and ended up getting the lowest mark in the class and extra work set by Professor Telgar.
Never mind I thought - Saturday tomorrow which means a lie-in and the Halloween feast. I was starting to warm up and contribute towards the Quidditch conversation the others were having. Just as I was starting to enjoy myself for the first time that day Lily walked in. I groaned audibly and she gave me a nasty look as she swept past me towards Remus. She sat for a while laughing and joking with Sirius and Remus while I tried to have an intelligent conversation with Peter. When even he seemed more interested in talking to Lily I slouched off to bed. I couldn’t be near Lily; her voice irritated me, her laugh irritated me, her smell irritated me, her hair irritated me and her eyes were just creepy. I’d rather be on my own.
The following morning I woke early but was entirely refreshed. The sun still hadn’t forced itself up over the horizon to spread its cold rays over the frosty grounds. I looked outside and decided that I’d go for an early morning jog - just for the hell of it. I grinned at my plan as I slipped into a pair of muggle jogging bottoms, trainers and a sweatshirt. I pulled a hat over my head and slipped out of my dorm. I raced down the stairs, jumping almost noiselessly from each step to the next. I was probably the only one awake I thought imagining all of the fun I could have. I slipped out of the doors in the main entrance out into the crisp air outside. I jogged slowly towards the forest to warm up, the frozen grass and leaves crunching beneath my trainers. Then when I reached the edge of the forest I broke into a full on run towards the lake. I ran fast and surely swinging my legs out in front of me to come crunching down for the next pace. I counted my strides, just enjoying the feeling of running.
My thighs and calves were burning by the time I reached the lake, my breath coming in ragged gasps but I felt satisfied. That run had cleared my mind of everything except the run itself - everything, including Lily.
Once my breathing slowed, my heart stopped pounding and my legs had stopped throbbing I decided that it was probably time I made my way back. I wanted to run again but people would be waking up soon, Sirius, Remus and Peter would doubtlessly come looking for me and I was in no mood to explain why I’d gone out so early. I started to jog slowly back towards the school when I realised something. Everyone would be looking for James - not for Prongs! No one would question seeing a stag galloping around the grounds - we were too close to the forest for that. Perhaps the others might but if they were still tired the though would be unlikely to even pop into their heads.
My genius surprised even me.
I hid behind a convenient tree and transformed, energy flowing into my body. I was Prongs now, no one could stop me. There was no Lily when I was Prongs, I had no worries, no concerns. I was just Prongs, handsome strong and powerful, no weedy James Potter. I took off flying from behind the tree my hooves beating upon the frozen ground. The sun had finally coming out and was casting a cheery light over the autumnal grounds. I threw back my neck and brayed over come with joy although I didn’t know what it was. It had been ages since I was Prongs, too long infact, Prongs was very happy that he was free again. I felt as if I could take on the world, no I didn’t need to I was already there. Suddenly the wind changed. My heightened animal senses told me that I was not alone in the grounds. There was someone else near me, I could smell them on the wind, hear their thudding feet and panting breath. I was near the school entrance and thundered towards it, antlers down so I’d look threatening to anyone who saw me. I rounded the corner just in time to see a head of red hair disappear through the heavy doors.
Lily!
She knew. I had not only given myself away but had betrayed my friends too. She wasn’t stupid, she’d seen the get well card Sirius and the other had given me and she’d figure out that if I was a stag they must be the other animals. I as James Potter groaned, and Prongs uttered an exasperated grunt before he sank to his knees.
